Memorandum paper tray



Oct. 28, 1958 H, w MARANO 2,858,016

MEMORANDUM PAPER TRAY Filed Sept. 5, 1957 ATTORNEY United States PatentMEMORANDUM PAPER TRAY Herbert W. Marano, Summit, N. I., assigner toWilson Jltnes Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Massac usettsApplication September 5, 1957, Serial No. 682,118

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-73) The present invention relates generally to animproved receptacle, and in particular it relates to an improveddesk-type tray for holding a stack of memo sheets.

The conventional desk-type memo tray is generally formed entirely of onematerial such as metal, plastic or wood, or other self-sustaining, rigidmaterial, and as a result possesses the advantages as well as thedisadvantages attendant such limited use of material. Thus, when thetray is fabricated of sheet metal, the numerous operations required inthe shaping and assembly of the final article are costly andlabor-consuming and the resulting tray is not only expensive but ishighly unattractive. On the other hand, when the tray is made of plasticby injection molding, the molds are intricate and very expensive and thefinished product, particularly where a rigid plastic is employed,possesses numerous points of weakness. Wooden trays are apt to be bulkyor short lived.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved receptacle of the character described.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved desktray for holding a stack of memo sheets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improveddesk tray of simple, inexpensive and rugged construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved desktray characterized by its ease of production and assembly.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is anexploded perspective view yof one form of article constructed accordingto and embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longituidnal sectional view thereof in assembledcondition.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of animproved receptacle comprising a base member including an upper inclinedsurface in a support plate having a rectangular aperture formed thereinand provided with a lower leading edge and an upper trailing edge; atray member registering with said aperture and having a rectangular baseplate forming an angle with the plane of said aperture; said base platehaving a leading edge abutting the leading edge of said aperture andbeing provided with an upwardly directed wall along its trailing edgeconfronting the trailing edge of said aperture; first locking meansmounted along and projected forwardly of the leading edge of said baseplate embracing opposite faces of said support plate and second lockingmeans mounted on said upwardly directed wall embracing opposite faces ofsaid support plate.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the numeral ICC 10 generally designates a traymember, the numeral 12 a base member, and the numeral 14 a foot piece.The tray member 10 is preferably formed of a synthetic organicthermoplastic or thermosetting material, and includes a 'base plate 16of generally rectangular configuration and provided with upstandingperipheral side walls 18 and a rear wall 20. Projecting inwardly fromthe leading edges 19 yof the side walls 18 are a pair of laterallyspaced vertically extending panels 20 which are directly forward of theleading edge of base plate 16, the lower edges of panels 20 beingcoplanar with the top face of base plate 16. The space between theinneredges 21 of panels 20 defines an entrance into the tray from the frontthereof for manipulation of stacked sheets therein by the forward edgesthereof. Depending from the underface of base plate 16 are a pair oflaterally spaced lugs 22 formed integrally with base plate 16 andprojecting forwardly of the front edge thereof. Lugs 22 are spacedinwardly from the inner edges of panels 20 and are provided with upperfaces which are substantially coplanar with the underface of base plate16.

Formed on the outer face of rear wall `20 and integral therewith are apair of upper, laterally spaced wedgeshaped protuberances 24 and a lowerwedge-shaped protuberance 26. Each of protuberances 24, 24 is providedwith an outwardly directed upwardly forwardly inclined cam surface 28,the lower edges of which terminate in coplanar flat surfaces 30. Thelower protuberance 26, Yon the other hand, is provided with a downwardlyinwardly directed cam surface 32 terminating at its upper part in a flat34 which is slightly below the level of flats 3l) of upper protuberances24.

Base 12 is preferably formed of sheet metal, and includes a forwardlydownwardly inclined upper support plate 36 having a rectangular aperture38 formed therein, the aperture 38 being provided with a forward edge 40and a rear edge 42. Depending from the sides of the support plate 36 andconnected thereto by a curved section are triangular skirts 44, the rearportions of which join a transversely extending arcuate section 46extending downwardly from the rear portion of support plate 36. Thelower edge of skirt 44 and the `curved section 46 are bent outwardly andshaped as at 48 to provide a finished edge. Projecting forwardly of thefront section of the support plate 36 are a pair of laterally spacedcurved members 50 having their concave faces upwardly directed toprovide a holder for writing implements and having their lower faceslying in a substantially common horizontal plane with the lower edges ofthe skirts 44 and rear section 46.

Formed in each of the skirts 44 adjacent to the rear portions thereof isa U-shaped recess 52. A foot piece 54 registers with each of therecesses 52, the foot piece 54 being formed of a resilient material andhaving a cylindrical configuration terminating at its upper end in arounded portion 56. A longitudinal groove 58 is formed in the wall ofthe foot piece 54 and extends over the top thereof, the border of recess52 registering with the groove 58, the side walls of which tightly em-'brace the opposite faces of the skirt 44 and the bases of which areunder compression to effect a tight assembly of the foot pieces 54 tothe skirts 44.

Tray 10 is secured to base 12 simply and easily by positioning lugs 22below the front edge 40 of support -plate 36, sliding tray 10 forwarduntil leading edge 40 is received between lugs 22 and panels 20, andpressing down upon the tray rear wall 20 until the lower, wedgeshapedprotuberance 26 passes below the support plate 36 bordering recess rearedge 42.

In assembled condition, the front border 40 of recess 38 is tightlyengaged between the underfaces of panels 20 and the upper faces of lugs22. The rear border 42 of 3 recess 38 is tightly engaged between theconfronting flat faces 30 and 34 respectively of protuberances 24 and26. The tray base plate 16 is substantially horizontal, and its frontedge abuts the recess edge 38, the top face thereof being substantiallycoplanar with the top face of the front border of the recess 38.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is ap* parent that numerous alterations andomissions may 4be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. An improved receptacle comprising a base member including an upperinclined support plate having a rectangular aperture formed thereinprovided with a lower leading edge and an upper trailing edge, a traymember registering with said aperture and having a rectangular baseforming an angle with the plane of said aperture, said base having aleading edge abutting the leading edge of said aperture and beingprovided with an upwardly directed wall along its trailing edgeconfronting the trailing edge of said aperture, rst locking meansmounted along and projected forwardly of the leading edge of said baseand embracing opposite faces of said support plate, and second lockingmeans mounted on said upwardly directed wall and embracing oppositefaces of said support plate adjacent the trailing edge thereof.

2. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim l, wherein said rstlocking means includes a pair of upright laterally spaced walls Vcarriedby said base forward of the leading edge thereof, the underface of saidwalls being substantially coplanar with the top face of said base plateand a lug carried by and projecting forward of said base plate andhaving an upper face substantially coplanar with the underface of saidbase plate.

3. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidsecond locking means includes upper and lower wedge-shaped detentshaving oppositely upwardly and downwardly directed outer inclined camsurfaces respectively and spaced parallel surfaces which embrace theopposite faces of said support plate.

4. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim l, wher-:in said traymember base is substantially horizontal.

5 An improved receptacle in accordance with `claim l, including a skirtdepending from the periphery of said support plate and terminating in asubstantially horizontal plane.

6. An improved receptacle in accordance with claim 5, including recessesformed in the lower edges of said skirt land foot pieces registeringwith said recesses and having grooves formed therein embracing the edgesof said recesses.

No references cited,

